Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference and fresh out the conclave, was displeased with the unilateral changes made by recent governments regarding the 8×1000 tax.
New procedures for the use of the 8×1000 portion of personal income tax (IRPEF) allocated directly to the State have been in effect since 2024. While we await the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s release of the 2025 distribution data (2021 income), we already know that the Catholic Church will have to contend with 214,000 fewer signatures, while the State will be able to count on 80,000 more signatures.
For about ten days, Zuppi has been making public statements regarding the 8×1000 tax regarding a dispute the Catholic Church has with the Italian State. During the conference “8×1000 Common Good. For Thousands of Gestures of Love and Hope”, held in Bologna on May 20, the cardinal launched a veiled attack on the government for “unilaterally implemented measures” that allegedly violated the Concordat. The cardinal, of course, expressed confidence and certainty that corrective action would be taken, based on “commitments made” by the government, “as well as by several previous ones, regarding the 8×1000 system, restoring it as originally established, in compliance with the contractual terms of the agreement.” This message, initially cryptic, has become clearer as the days have passed.
In what sense is the State not respecting the Concordat? Yesterday, Zuppi, revealing his hand, explained this further at a conference on the support of the clergy in Bologna. He expressed disappointment with the government’s decision to unilaterally change the purposes and methods of allocating the 8×1000 allocated to the State. This decision, described by the CEI President as “against the contractual reality of the agreement itself,” would harm both the Catholic Church and the other religious denominations that have signed agreements with the State. The bishops, in fact, did not appreciate the introduction of the option for taxpayers who sign for the State to choose the specific type of intervention, which has effectively resulted in a significant increase in resources for the State and a reduction for the Church.
Since the million-dollar advertisements for the 8×1000 tax return are not enough to stem the decline in preferences—and in revenue, which has fallen from €1.1 billion to €900 million in the last two years—the bishops appear to be seeking stronger measures, interfering and pressuring the institutions of the Republic.
“The executive must realize that the Concordat with the Catholic Church is a threat to sovereignty and damaging to Italy’s interests,” says Roberto Grendene, Secretary of the UAAR. The government must respond immediately to the CEI’s latest interference with action: not only by encouraging taxpayers to choose the State in the 8×1000 tax return, but by revising Law 222/1985 to ensure that unexpressed decisions remain with the general tax system, as has always been the case with the 5×1000 tax return. And by starting to take seriously the need for unilateral denunciation of the Concordat”.
Press release
Further information
Growing desire for a secular use of the 8×1000 to the State (UAAR)
Cardinal Zuppi’s interferences
Bishops’ protest. Zuppi: the Church penalized in the 8 per thousand tax return (La Repubblica – Bologna)
Permanent Council: Cardinal Zuppi, “the Church will continue to work to build peaceful relationships,” expresses “gratitude” to those who choose the eight per thousand (AgenSir)
The 8×1000 State funding communication campaigns
“8×1000 to the State” communication campaigns (Government)